Segmented Differential Output Buffer for SEE-Tolerant Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Differential output buffers in digital communication designs are susceptible to Single Event Effects (SEE) in harsh environments, such as space and military applications, due to their vulnerability to radiation-induced errors and transient upsets caused by ionizing radiation and energetic particles.
Innovation Solution
A radiation-hardened differential output buffer is designed with multiple stages and a pre-drive circuit, where each stage includes a current source and a bridge circuit, ensuring that a disruption in one stage does not affect the overall output, as the stages are electrically connected to provide a similar output signal and the pre-drive circuit controls the stages with complementary digital signals to maintain consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-stage differential output buffer is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability against single event effects is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The differential output buffer is divided into multiple independent stages, each with its own current sources and transistor pairs. This segmentation ensures that a single event effect affecting one stage does not propagate to other stages, as each stage operates independently with isolated current paths. The multiple stages work in parallel to produce the differential output signal.
2Speed
If current sources are used to enable low-power operation at low frequencies, then the power consumption is reduced, but the switching speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer employs dynamic current steering mechanisms where current sources are actively controlled to switch between different conduction paths. During transitions, current is dynamically redirected through different transistor pairs, enabling high-speed operation. The dynamic nature of the current switching allows the buffer to achieve high-frequency performance while maintaining low average power consumption through efficient current reuse.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation hardened differential output buffer is partitioned into multiple stages, each including at least one current source and a bridge circuit. Each stage receives substantially the same inputs at substantially the same time, and provides substantially the same output. The outputs of each stage are connected together. As a result, if one of the stages is disrupted by SEE, the disrupted stage does not contribute enough current to the output of the differential output buffer to disrupt the output signal.